Tom, 44, said: "I'm learning a lot about how the music industry is decaying, and if it is, it's decaying in my favour, so I'm going to sit back and watch what happens.

"I remember the meetings at my label, BMG as it was then (now Sony), when they said I was going to be one of the artists that would be promoted on the internet. It didn't sound like they knew what they were doing, and arguably they still don't. But that was my introduction to the web, I didn't even have an email account then.

"For me, the rise of the internet and the death of the old industry has benefited me, although I was one of the last artists to benefit from that huge exposure. Bands now would kill for the sort of budget that was spent on marketing my first album."

Tom said there are some benefits to working away from a big label but would like that big marketing budget again.

He said: "I think my profile has fallen through the floor in terms of exposure, but in terms of ticket sales, I'm doing pretty well. When you do things completely on your own, you can make a better living and have more control, but there is that part of you that yearns to be heard and have more of the spotlight you might have got under the old way of doing things."

:: Tom McRae begins a UK tour on April 16. For more information, visit www.tommcrae.com.